In today’s fast-paced environment, most frontline workers are equipped with mobile computer solutions. However, there are times when a desktop layout (larger monitor, keyboard, headset) makes sense. Until now, companies have needed to invest in a separate desktop PC for their workers. Good news: Zebra’s clever new Workstation Connect is a docking station which enables the worker to plug in a mobile device and immediately convert it to a full-featured desktop PC environment. The ROI case is simple: worker efficiency is improved, with simultaneous opportunities to improve customer satisfaction.

Workstation Connect is compatible with a broad range of Zebra Technologies mobile computers, including current TC handhelds and ET tablets.

How Workstation Connect Works

It’s simple to use: simply drop a Zebra mobile device into the dock, and it will connect to the monitors and peripheral devices. Users immediately receive the productivity benefits of a workstation, the ergonomic benefits of larger screen and keyboard/mouse, and the ability to simultaneously work on different apps on the desktop and mobile device!

Workstation Connect Features

• Intuitive desktop interface
• Flexible HDMI monitor support
• Supports various data-entry modes
• Supports Android, web-based, and more
• Secure: admin control over peripherals allowed and the desktop
• Rugged design will stand up to day-to-day usage
• Accommodates a range of Zebra mobile computer and tablet models

The workstation docking cradle includes ports for powered USB, HDMI, Ethernet, an audio jack, and cable management. Various configurations are available to dial in the precise feature set you need for your business requirements.

The Workstation Connect Desktop – Not Just a Larger Mobile Screen

It’s important to note that the Workstation Connect dock doesn’t just make the Zebra mobile device screen larger… it creates an entirely new screen layout, which will be familiar to desktop users. Application launch shortcuts can be positioned on the desktop. Application can be opened in re-sizable windows, a familiar taskbar is present. All of the features which users make common use of at a desktop are present.

Enterprise-Grade Administrative Control

As would be expected from a Zebra Technologies product, Workstation Connect offers powerful levels of admin control. You can control configuration through mobile device management (MDM) software. You can determine with precision which applications and levels of user access are allowed. You can control the look and feel of the user desktop in order to ensure conformity and easier training. Workstation Connect also includes a USB Host Manager which ensures that only authorized devices are connected – this reduces potential security risks cause by employees introducing risky peripherals.

Applications for Zebra Workstation Connect

• Warehouses and Distribution Centers – managers and material handlers get flexible access to a workstation for label printing, data entry, communications, and reports
• Public Safety – first responders can use an in-vehicle workstation for computer aided dispatch (CAD), records management system access (RMS), and law enforcement applications
• Retail – store associates gain flexibility for point of sale, returns processing, communications, and more
• Hospitality – create dynamic check-in/checkout stations, point of sale, and guest assistance
• Healthcare – nurses and providers gain EHR access, admissions/discharge forms, scan barcodes, and kiosks for patient check-in

To further increase the power of this workstation docking cradle, combine it with a mobile powered cart from Newcastle Systems, also available through CSSI.

Learn More About Zebra Workstation Connect

To learn more about Workstation Connect, and to arrange a personal demo, please contact CSSI. We will work with you to understand the requirements of your frontline workers and create a winning solution.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Converting Mobile Computers to Desktop Workstations

Q: What is Zebra Workstation Connect, and what does it actually do?
A. Workstation Connect is Android-based Zebra software that lets one Zebra mobile computer or tablet also work as a full workstation or point-of-sale (POS) station. Your workers keep their handheld for mobile tasks. When they need a bigger screen, the same device runs their applications on a large monitor with a keyboard and mouse. So one device covers mobile, desk and checkout work.

Q: How do employees switch between mobile mode and workstation mode?
A. There are two ways. Workers can drop the device into a compatible Connect Cradle, which brings up the workstation experience on the attached display. Or they can connect wirelessly: the Wireless Workstation Connect app casts the device to a large screen through a Zebra ZEC500. To go back to mobile mode, they lift the device out of the cradle or end the casting session in the app. They don’t need to log in to a second machine or move data between devices.

Q: Will our existing applications work in workstation mode?
A. Workstation Connect supports Android apps, web-based applications and virtual desktop environments. That should cover most warehouse management, inventory, ERP and dashboard tools your team already uses. Admins also get controls to set up and show the right user interface for each application, so apps built for a small handheld screen can be shown properly on a large monitor. Before rolling it out, test your most important apps, especially custom or legacy ones, on a pilot device.

Q: What are the cost and operational benefits compared with traditional desktop PCs?
A. Zebra says a docked mobile device uses less than half the power of a typical desktop or laptop. That lowers energy costs and shrinks your environmental footprint. You also buy and support fewer separate computers, which cuts capital spending and day-to-day IT work. Because one device does the job of a mobile computer, a workstation and a POS terminal, each device you buy gets more use and pays back faster. Zebra offers an ROI calculator to estimate the savings for your own operation.

Q: Where does Workstation Connect fit in a warehouse or distribution operation?
A. It works well anywhere a worker sometimes needs a bigger screen but spends most of the shift on the move. Examples include supervisor and manager dashboards, training new employees, handling complex orders or exceptions at a desk, shipping and receiving stations, and showing staff schedules on a shared display. Workers can pick, scan and count on the floor, then dock at a station to review reports, fix discrepancies or finish data-heavy work without changing devices.